[Article VI, Sect. 1. "The times and places and
manner of holding the elections of the members
of each House shall be prescribed by the Legislature
of each State; but their provisions concerning
them may, at any time, be altered by the Legislature
of the United States."]

Mr. Madison -- & Mr. Govr. Morris moved to strike out
"each House" & to insert "the House of Representatives";
the right of the Legislatures to regulate the times & places
&c. in the election of Senators being involved in the right
of appointing them, which was disagreed to.

Division of the question being called, it was taken on the
first part down to "but their provisions concerning &c"

The first part was agreed to nem. con.

Mr. Pinkney & Mr. Rutlidge moved to strike out the remaining
part viz "but their provisions concerning them
may at any time be "altered by the Legislature of the
United States." The States they contended could & must
be relied on in such cases.

Mr Ghorum. It would be as improper take this power
from the Natl. Legislature, as to Restrain the British Parliament
from regulating the circumstances of elections,
leaving this business to the Counties themselves--

Mr Madison. The necessity of a Genl. Govt. supposes
that the State Legislatures will sometimes fail or refuse to
consult the common interest at the expense of their local
conveniency or prejudices. The policy of referring the appointment
of the House of Representatives to the people
and not to the Legislatures of the States, supposes that the
result will be somewhat influenced by the mode, This view
of the question seems to decide that the Legislatures of the
States ought not to have the uncontrouled right of regulating
the times places & manner of holding elections.
These were words of great latitude. It was impossible to
foresee all the abuses that might be made of the discretionary
power. Whether the electors should vote by ballot
or vivâ voce, should assemble at this place or that place;
should be divided into districts or all meet at one place,
shd all vote for all the representatives; or all in a district
vote for a number allotted to the district; these & many
other points would depend on the Legislatures. and might
materially affect the appointments. Whenever the State
Legislatures had a favorite measure to carry, they would
take care so to mould their regulations as to favor the candidates
they wished to succeed. Besides, the inequality of
the Representation in the Legislatures of particular States,
would produce a like inequality in their representation in
the Natl. Legislature, as it was presumable that the Counties
having the power in the former case would secure it
to themselves in the latter. What danger could there be in
giving a controuling power to the Natl. Legislature? Of
whom was it to consist? 1. of a Senate to be chosen by the
State Legislatures. If the latter therefore could be trusted,
their representatives could not be dangerous. 2. of Representatives
elected by the same people who elect the State
Legislatures; surely then if confidence is due to the latter,
it must be due to the former. It seemed as improper in
principle--though it might be less inconvenient in practice,
to give to the State Legislatures this great authority
over the election of the Representatives of the people in
the Genl. Legislature, as it would be to give to the latter a
like power over the election of their Representatives in the
State Legislatures.

Mr. King. If this power be not given to the Natl. Legislature,
their right of judging of the returns of their members
may be frustrated. No probability has been suggested
of its being abused by them. Altho this scheme of erecting
the Genl. Govt. on the authority of the State Legislatures
has been fatal to the federal establishment, it would seem
as if many gentlemen, still foster the dangerous idea.

Mr. Govr. Morris--observed that the States might make
false returns and then make no provisions for new elections

Mr. Sherman did not know but it might be best to retain
the clause, though he had himself sufficient confidence in
the State Legislatures. The motion of Mr. P. & Mr. R. did
not prevail

The word "respectively" was inserted after the word
"State"

On the motion of Mr Read the word "their" was struck
out, & "regulations in such cases" inserted in place of
"provisions concerning them". the clause then reading--"but
regulations, in each of the foregoing cases may at any
time, be made or altered by the Legislature of the U. S.
This was meant to give the Natl. Legislature a power not
only to alter the provisions of the States, but to make regulations
in case the States should fail or refuse altogether.